“Ukrainian army is continuing to use the fire tactics against LPR militia units emplacing weapons in neighbourhoods,” Marochko said. “In Popasnaya, 10th separate mountain assault brigade units deliver fire from a private residence area causing the resentment of local population.”

“Popasnaya residents are drawing a joint statement to “anti-terrorist operation” commander General Zabrodskiy asking him to withdraw the above units from the settlement in order to avoid civilian casualties,” the spokesman said.

The members of the Contact Group have announced ceasefire more than ten times since autumn 2014. Kiev forces regularly violated the truce opening fire with large calibre artillery, mortars and tank guns which were to have been withdrawn in accordance with the Minsk agreements.

The Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements was adopted by the Contact Group on Ukraine on 12 February 2015 and supported by member states of the Normandy Four (Germany, Russia, Ukraine and France). The UN Security Council approved the document by its 2202 Resolution and called upon all the sides to ensure full implementation of the Package of Measures.

The document provides for comprehensive ceasefire, withdrawal of all heavy weapons from the contact line, starting a dialog on reconstruction of social and economic ties between Kiev and Donbass. It also envisages carrying out constitutional reform in Ukraine providing for decentralization and adopting permanent legislation on a special status of certain areas of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions.